LSAT Explanation PT 37, S2, Q6: Advertisement: At most jewelry stores, the

LSAT Question Stem

The reasoning in the advertisement would be most strengthened if which one of the following were true? 

Logical Reasoning Question Type

This is a Strengthen question. 

Correct Answer

The correct answer to this question is E. 

LSAT Question Complete Explanation

The question type for this problem is Strengthen, and our task is to find an answer choice that strengthens the argument presented in the advertisement.

Let's break down the argument in the passage:

Premise 1: At most jewelry stores, the person assessing the diamond is the person selling it.

Premise 2: All diamonds sold at Gem World are certified in writing.

Conclusion: You're assured of a fair price when purchasing a diamond from Gem World.

The argument assumes that written certification guarantees a fair price. However, there is a potential gap in this reasoning: who is providing the written certification? If it's the same person selling the diamond, then the argument is weakened. To strengthen the argument, we need an answer choice that addresses this gap.

Now, let's evaluate the answer choices:

a) Many jewelry stores other than Gem World also provide written certification of the quality of their diamonds.

- This answer choice does not strengthen the argument because it doesn't address the issue of who provides the certification at Gem World. It only tells us about other jewelry stores.

b) The certifications of diamonds at Gem World are written by people with years of experience in appraising gems.

- Although this answer choice may seem tempting, it still doesn't address the main issue: who provides the certification? It is possible that the seller at Gem World is also an experienced appraiser.

c) The diamonds sold at Gem World are generally of higher quality than those sold at other jewelry stores.

- This answer choice doesn't strengthen the argument because it doesn't address the issue of fair pricing. It only tells us about the quality of diamonds at Gem World compared to other stores.

d) The diamond market is so volatile that prices of the most expensive diamonds can change by hundreds of dollars from one day to the next.

- This answer choice doesn't strengthen the argument because it doesn't address the issue of written certification. If anything, it suggests that a fair price may not be obtainable at Gem World due to price volatility.

e) The written certifications of diamonds at Gem World are provided by an independent company of gem specialists.

- This is the correct answer. It strengthens the argument by addressing the gap in the reasoning: who provides the written certification? By stating that an independent company of gem specialists provides the certifications, it eliminates the concern that the seller might be biased in their assessment, thus supporting the conclusion that you're assured of a fair price at Gem World.

In summary, the correct answer choice is (e), as it addresses the gap in the argument and strengthens the conclusion that purchasing a diamond from Gem World guarantees a fair price.